Bill Feig/The Advocate via The Associated PressLSU football players Jordan Jefferson, right, and Joshua Johns leave the East Baton Rouge Parish prison on Friday after each bonded out for $5,000 following their arrests earlier in the day.

But it did bring the weeklong saga to a transition point and relieve some tension.

While heavy-hearted on the practice field, the No. 4-ranked Tigers now know who their starting quarterback will be when they line up against No. 3 Oregon in the season opener Sept. 3.

Lee, who has nine career starts, took one meaningless, kneel-down snap in that game. Now LSU is moving forward with him at the controls.

"We've moved in a way to allow Jarrett to spend a lot of time on the field, but really the decision was made more fully today," Coach Les Miles said Friday evening.

"Jarrett just had a hell of a practice. He's really working to do the things he needs to do to help his team."

Miles even made a rare depth chart announcement, saying sophomore transfer Zach Mettenberger was No. 2 with freshman Stephen Rivers at No. 3. Miles said if they need an athletic quarterback in the mix, freshman Jerrard Randall may get an "opportunity."

That was the easy part of the day. Miles didn't have a chance to prepare his team for what it was going to find out while the players were still in class. Baton Rouge police issued the arrest warrants at mid-morning. By 11:45 a.m., Jefferson and Johns had turned themselves in at the East Baton Rouge Parish prison and bonded out at $5,000 apiece.

Both players were suspended indefinitely by the school.

They were two of four LSU players implicated in a fight Aug. 19 at Shady's, an off-campus bar. Sophomore offensive tackle Chris Davenport and freshman wide receiver Jarvis Landry were the others. Jefferson and Johns were booked with second-degree battery, a felony. A witness said Jefferson kicked alleged victim Andrew Lowery in the face.

"It's certainly a tough time for our team," Miles said. "They see a teammate in peril and ... there was some real emotion on that field. They really put it behind them and focused for the two hours-plus we practiced. I was proud of them today, because they were sick.

"There were tears. It was hard on them. I don't think there were many that believed that was the outcome. It took some time for them to understand what was going on."

Miles said it hasn't been determined whether Jefferson and Johns will practice with the team but "certainly not this week," he said. Davenport and Landry did practice but both could still be subject to charges.

Miles did not rule out reinstating the players as the legal process plays out, "not unless we had further information. I told Jordan to defend himself fully. Participate in the legal system and stand his ground."

Johns, a sophomore from Baton Rouge, has hired Tommy Damico to represent him.

Neither player was available for comment.

Fisher will continue to be available for Davenport and Landry.

Miles was asked what he thought of the police investigation and while respectful of the agency, he seemed annoyed at the constant media reports on the case.

"I certainly respect the process our law enforcement agencies go through to make these determinations," he said. "I think it's a tough job they have.

"I think they have to run their business in a way that reflects an honest, straightforward investigation. I don't think communications with the media specific to the event is necessary. We all want them to do a great job."

He called Friday "a sad day" for Baton Rouge, LSU and Tiger fans. After a brief outline of the case and saying the department will forward its report to the District Attorney's office "for review and final disposition," he added the department "will not comment any further on the merits or facts of this case."

It certainly was a sad day for Jefferson and Miles, who has been pushing Jefferson for three years to become more of a vocal leader after an inconsistent 20-7 record as a starter. Miles said he felt the senior from Destrehan had broken through during the summer, but apparently won't get the opportunity to show it.

But the team moves on.

"We all kind of understand our marching orders," Miles said. "Our team understands there's not much they can do specifically to help Jordan or Josh."